Furniture construction



March 3, l931 E. OHNSTRAND ET AL 1,795,133

FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 28, 1927 Patented Mar. 3, 1931 UNITEDSTATES PATENT oFFicE ENOCH OHNSTRAND, KENMORE, AND BENJAMIN G. RAND, OFNORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO REMINGTON RAND INC., 0F NEWYORK, N. Y.

FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION This invention relates to improvements in theconstruction of furniture, particularly metal furniture such as desksand the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a 5. furniture constructonhaving a top section and a body section detachably associated andsecured in assembled relation by suitable movable latching means.

A further object of the invention resides in l". forming the bodyportion of a piece of furniture with openings adjacent the upper edge inwhich` suitable movable latch members are removably engaged fordetacliably locking a top section on the body portion.

'i Another obj ect of the inventionresides iii providing movable latchmembers for locking the top section to the body portion o f a piece offurniture, such as a desk or the like,

I in which the latch members are provided 27 with suitable locking meansfor locking the latch members in engaged relation,iand in which thelatch members and the locking means are normally concealed andaccessible Q for operation through the use of a special The i inventioncomprehends numerous other objects residing in the details of con-vstruction and relation of the parts which l are more particularlypointed out in the following detailed description, and in the claimsdirected to a preferred form of the invention, it being understoodhowever, that the latches may be arranged in any desired manner and Vthat various changes in the construction and association of the partsmay be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas herein set forth.

`In the drawings forming part of this apn plicationz- A l is aperspective showing part of an assembled desk equipped with thisinvention. j

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view look- 45 ing upwardly, ltaken frombelow the desk top through one corner portion of the desk, the latchesbeing shown in engaged position.` i

Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view taken 50 substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2, portionsbeing broken away for convenience in illustration.

Fig. 4 is an endelevation of the operating tool for the latch members.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the tool shown in Fig. 4. j

A metal desk construction is illustrated in Fig. l which includes a topsection l and a body portion 2 which are formed for detachableengagement with one another. The body portion 2 includes corner sections3 between which drawers 4 and the side wall sections extend in the usualmanner as is well-knowii in the construction of metal desks. At theupper end portions, these corner sections 3 are formed with slots 5 asclearly illustrated in Fig. 3.

The top section 1 is formed of a mainvtop plate 6 having dependingflange portions 7 extending around the edge thereof, termi nating ininwardly extending flanges 8. These flanges 7 and `8 are strengthened bythe use of the channel members 9 for providing a rigid edge constructionfor the top section. Suitable layers 10 may be mounted on the platemember 6 to finish the top section and provide a writing surface thereoniii a manner well-known in the art.

lVhen the top section is applied to the body portion, the flanges 7 and8 and the channel member 9 extend downwardly around the `upper edgeportion of the body portion 2 of the desk. These flanges areproportioi'led so that the lower flange on the channel meinber 9` insideof the flange 8 extends below the slots 5 in the body portion, inassembled relation of the top section on the body portion as shown inFig. 3.

Retaining levers 11 are pivoted inside of the channel member 9 at oneend as indicated at 12, while the opposite ends are provided vwithlaterally extending tapered tongues 13 adapted to extend through andengage in slots 5. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, these levers are normallyconcealed within the top section of the desk and to provide access forengaging and disengaging these levers in the slots 5, the flange 8 andadjacent portion of channel member 9 are formed with a slot extendingtransversely of flange 8 adjacent the 'Uli free end of each lever asindicated at 14 with which registers the opening 15 formed in thevtree'end of the lever. Y

Between the pivot'12 for the levers 11, and the slot 14, the liange 8and adjacent channel member; Qafare forme-d fWith an opening 16,y in

vwhichengagesa locking plunger 17-oarried by the lever. This plunger'17has areduced extension l18 slidably A engaged inthe cylindrical casing19.," liat'fin`g 'one eiidlniounted;inv *the lever. The opposite "endofthe casingl is closed and slidably receives thefextension 18 of Vthelocking plunger, which Yisl formed with an enlarged head129fiforjengagingftheend of casing 19 and limiting its projectioninto-opening 16. A coilspring 21 is-mounted over the reduced extension18 aiidihas-'one end "engaged against tlief Aplunger-117 and theopposite end seatedfinf--the casing'l) 'sothatthespringwhich'isynormally under-1'compres-l sion, yWill normally tend toforce tlie'lplunger downward Y for-engaging `in the? opening 16. Thisopening'is-positionedtoreceive the plunger 17` when the'loclnfg'tongue'l is yinl the V'engaged position in sloty 5 lforvlocking-the top section -to' the body/portion.l The -head of"plunger.lfengaging linV opening 16 is rounded topermit'readyengagenientand Vdis-` engagemonto'f the plunger-from theopening during operationin' a manner as v'will behereinafter set forth.y

' Any number of these lockingvlevers maybe us'edbn the top'section1Wliich1niaybe found desirable, f andL they may be located .at'f thecrner portions, and' throughout' the central portions of the `topsection as, ound'zm ostdesirahlfe. "The'tongues E13fare'.taperedfasshown iii 'Figj in order tli'at the top section Will'be drawn tightlyinto contact. with the body portion when they are in assembled relationwith the loekinglevers in vthe 'engaged' position as shown inxFig, 2.

The tool'illustrated in Figs. elf-and 'is'used to engage and disengagethese levers from the locking, position shown in Figs., 22' and 3.

Y For this purpose,lthe tool'coinpiises a b'ar as illi'istrated.1V lViththis tool, theflugsz' on one sideofv the bar are used'for operating oneof 'the' locking levers, the lug 25 being insertedf'in-opening 16solrth'at' it Will substantiallyl disengage the locking plunger 17 fromthe opening' 16 tothe-extent that a movement ofthe leverwvill causeth'e'rounde'd end'to ride f upjwardlyl through engagemente with the edgeof the openingnto'a 'fully releasedpos'ition.

fl/Vitli' l'u'g 25 engagedinoipenin'g 1G for partially disengaginglocking plunger 17, the .lug 24 may be engaged in opening 15 in thelocking lever, so that the subsequent pivotal movement of thebar 22 onthe lug as a pivot will move the locking lever troni kthe locked totheunlocked position, or viceversa. In using levers as showninrit-ig.AQ'f-at the corner of the desk, it is necessary ,tol extend thesegleversin relative opposite directions Whichnece'ssit'at'esa reversal of theposition of 'theslot'ltrelative to openingl so that tlieflugsfaand 25 onone side of bar 2:2 are used in'operating one locking lever extendinginone direction while the lugs on the opposite side of the bar are usedin operating the other locking lever'extendingA ini the oppositedirectionly f Y I 1. Y,

The; levers 11i are formed adjacent the tonguesI` 13V with. angularshoulders 26. These shoulders 26-are adapted to engage the: lface ofthecorneripostsof'thedesk in the assembled relation of the partsasLshoWn.

in Fig. 2in order to properly position the` desktop relative tothecorner posts and preventflateralfmovenient thereof, which wouldotherwise be permitted hythe sp aceV between the flanges Sandthewcorner. posts.y When the latches 17 lare in llocked-positionl asshown in Fig. 2, theseflevers-are rigidlyheld by these latches so thatalirm lockingaction is obtainedthrough the medium ofthe levers forlocking thetop to the bodytportion of the desk.' f g.- QFrom-thestructureas shown in the; drawings`,1it Will' be seen-that: the.looking levers are concealed Within thel top ysection and -requiretheuse of the special tool for-attaching andldetaching tlieitop` sectionfrom: the `body portion.r Itl Will be further. noted; that the dependingflange extending around the edge VVoifthe/top'. seetioni'terininateslbelow the slot-s 5' s o that all .of-` thelookin'g.mechanisniaisconcealed from view with'theexception: of the slots11l'and1'-opening 16'foimreceiving the lugs oflther'to'ol which operate theelocking' levers.rThe 'plungers 17 further Voperate through their engagement inA'openings in the locking levers' and the-openings 16, in which theVplungeisl are seated` and extend v.tra-nsver'selyto the.; direction of"movement of .the lockinglevers, vfor effectively-.locking said levers inthe engaged"relation4 in ,slots` 5,{ and effectively retainingqthe topsection locked on the body portion. Y

VllVliat-.is claimed iszy 1. Furniture, comprising a bodyl portionhaving corner sections, each corner section having openings formedadjacent the upper end, top section mounted' on said body'having'afdepending flange encircling the upper end'ot'the body, aleverpivoted on saidllange aiidadapted'to'engage in one of saidopenir'igs for locking the top` on, the body', andlmeans' for retainingthe leverv in i top= locking position.

CFI

Q. In a furniture construction, a body portion having corner sections,each corner section having openings adjacent the upper end, a topsection having depending portions engaged over the openings in eachcorner section, a movable member mounted on each depending portionhaving a tongue for engagement in one of said openings to lock the topsection on the body portion, and means for retaining the member inlocked position.

3. In a furniture construction, a body portion having openings at spacedintervals adjacent the upper edge, a top section mounted on said bodyand having an over-hanging margin, means movably mounted on said marginfor engaging in said openings to lock the top section on said body, andmeans for retaining the last-named means in locked position.

4. In a furniture construction, a body portion having openings at spacedintervals adjacent the upper edge, a top section mounted on said body, aseries of levers pivotally mounted on said top section in concealedrelation, each lever having a portion adapted 1. for engagementin one ofsaid openings for locking the top section on the body portion,

and means for retaining said levers in locked position, said means beingmanually disengageable.

5. In a furniture construction, a body portion having openings at spacedintervals adjacent the upper edge, a top section mounted on said body,movable locking members concealed in said top section and adapted toengage in said openings for locking the top on thebody, means vforretaining said members in top locking position, and an operating memberformed for detachable engagement with said members and means fordisengaging said means from locking position and moving said members outof engagement with said openings.

6. In a furniture construction, a body portion having openings at spacedintervals adjacent the upper edge, atop sect-ion mounted on. said bodyportion, levers pivoted on said top section for engagement in saidopenings to lock said top section on the body portion, and resilientlyprojected retaining elements carried by said levers for engagement insockets formed in said 'top section to retain said levers in lockingposition.

7. In a furniture construction, a body portion having openings adjacentthe upper edge, a top section mounted on said body portion having theedge portions extending beyond the body, levers pivotally mounted j onsaid edge portion for locking engagement in said openings, andresiliently projected locking elements movable transversely to themovement of the levers for engagement in openings formed in the topsection to lock said levers in top locking engagement in said openings.

8. In a furniture construction, a body portion having openings adjacentthe upper edge, a top section mounted on said body portion having theedge portion projecting beyond the body portion, said top section havinga depending marginal flange terminat ing in an inwardly extending flangein spaced parallel relation below the top section, levers pivotallymounted on the upper face of said inwardly extending flange for lockingengagement in said openings for locking the top section on the bodyportion, and resiliently projected latches mounted on said lev-V ers andadapted to engage in openings formed in said inwardly extending flangesto retain said levers in locking position.

9. In a furniture construction, a body p0rtion having openings adjacentthe upper edge, a top section mounted on said body portion having theedge portion projecting beyond the body portion, said top section havinga depending marginal flange terminating in an inwardly extending flangein spaced parallel relation below the top section, levers pivotallymounted on the upper face of said inwardly extending flange for lockingengagement in said openings for lock ing the top section on the bodyportion, and resiliently projected latches mounted on said levers andadapted to engage in openings formed in said inwardly extending flangesto retain said levers in locking position, each lever having an openingregistering with a slot 'formed in said inwardly extending flange, and areleasing lever formed for insertion in the opening in said flange, andthrough the slot-in said flange for engaging in the opening in thelever, and releasing said latches so that said levers may be moved tounlocking position.

ENOCH OHNSTRAND. BENJAMIN G. RAND.

